The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1887-05-25
ST. LuKE's CHURCH, CHARLESTON.
A Seeding Delegates from the DiO.
cesar Connection are Heartily
Endorsed...A Plain Statement Of

Facts.
A special meeting of the congregation of st
Luke's Church was held at the church yester
day afternoon for the purpose Of considering
the action of tine delegates to the recent Do
cesan Convention Of the Episcopal Church
The meeting was called at the request o.
Messrs. w. l.. Daggett, c. X. Holmes ana Dr
F. Peyre Porcher, lay deputies TO the CQnven
holders of the congregation. The meeting
was organized with Col. Childs in the chair
and DR.. w. P. Porcher as secretary; The nrst
business was the reading OF the following re-
port, submitted by the seeding deputies:
CHARLESTON, MAY 10, 1887.
The undersigned, delegates from st. Luxe
Church to the Diocesan Convention, respect
fully report the following as the grounds Tor
their recent action:
tshes they retired from the Convention:,
First. Because they considered the ruling oi
the Bishop as unconstitut1onal, or oeyonu ms
legal prerogatives. He FUSED 10 entertain
an appeal from his decision 10 the sense Of the
Convention, thus arbitrarily cutting, on de.
bate as 10 its organization a step which we
regard as frausht with danger to the rights
and liberties ofany people.
II will be remembered that the laity are the
permanent resdcndts of the State, and also
coordinate branch of the Church, ana, there
fore, more interested in one phase of the ques.
ton than the clergy, who-with the utmost
respect for their calling-are more transient,
and liable to be called to other fields.
Believing, therefore, that by the constitu-
tion of the Church in South Carolina the laity
have important rights. and lnaSmuch as tney
are the source from whence is derived the
election and appointment OF Bishop. and rec
tors Of parishes, that to them Is assigned the
duty of providing ways ana means ana 4ho, tne me
these reasons their wishes should command
the greatest considerations.
And whereas. also, the great majority OF the
laity in this diocese have repeatedly express
ed their most positive unwillingness to the
introduction OF colored clergymcn into the
Convention. and only white persons being In,
tended when the Constitution was formed
which made n clergyman, upon certain con-
ditions. q member when he became presby-
ter. therefore, with all due respect, we believe
for this and other equally potent reasons that
the time has not arrived for forcing this ques-
tion upon us, or at least until the great ooay
of the 'laity are prepared and willing for the
measure. .,
We do not desire in any way to impede the
progress and prosperity OF the colored race
cational point of view. We yield to no one in
the interest naturally felt in their prosperity
and advancement, bat we object to any meas
ures which tend to break down those barriers
which exist and which we esteem best for the
interest and welfare Of both races.
Our retirement from the Convention Is
meant to he an emphatic protest against the
ruling of the presiding, officer and for the In.
ously object to. This action on the part OF
the president, if it does not end In the dis
memberinent Of the Church, will certainly
lessen its activity and usefulness, and our
retirement is intended to call halt to those
who are unmindful OF the dangers which are
before them.
Furthermore, We are of the opinion that as
we were thrce-fourihs of the delegation from
this parish that under the provisions of Arti-
Gle Z, Section |, OF the constitution. our with
drawal left the parish virtually and legally
without representation.
We respectfully ask an expression OF optn-
ion by the congregation on our action.
WIN. L. DAGGETT,
F. PEYRE PORCHER,
c. r. HOLMES.
On hearing the report OF Messrs w. L. Dag
gett DR.. T.. Peyre Porcher and c. r. Holmes,
three OF our deputies to the late Diocesan
Convention, and also the report OF Mr.. j.
Rptiedge Smith, another of our deputies:
Resolved, That we approve the action OF the
trhee deputies who retired from the Conven-
lion as best representing the judgment of the
great majority Of this congregation.
Resolved, That we do not question the con.
& ba ~